COOPERSTOWN CULTURE DAY EXCURSION

Cooperstown is just the perfect place for a little culture bite. The Fenimore is such a beautiful museum with incredible lake views and grounds. We wanted to go see the Keith Haring exhibit and while there went to see an Ansel Adams photography exhibit on the Japanese/American WWII internment camps which I found so disturbing. It was sad to see that this country has not changed much since then. I always love to walk through their folk art exhibits and a nice slow walk around to see Otsego Lake. I love this town. I love that there is just enough to see when you need it. Lovely day.

WHITE FLOWERS

Mid summer and I look forward to our hydrangeas blooming at our back door. They are beautiful. I don't know why I ever was worried about my Mom's gardenia bushes, they have survived and then some between our basement grow lights and under the pergola in the summer. They were prolific this year.

COLLECTIONS

Just a shot of pottery and art I collect. I love Japanese RAku pottery and I love this Vietnamese potter that does this beautiful organic sea-inspired vaseware. I used to collect art and photography from this studio in Paris that I bought items from infrequently when I went there for work frequently. Nice souvenirs from a wonderful time in my life.

JULY 4TH COOK OUT

Quiet July 4th. We indulged making our favorite holiday food. Gourmet grilled bacon cheeseburgers, mac salad, baked beans, and tator tots. Sometimes the best meals are so easy.

THINKING OF MY PARENTS

Standing by the grill and thinking of my parents. For years, my parents would hop in their little RV camper and make trips over to Louisiana and Houston and Galveston for getaway weekends from the exhausting world of New Braunfels, Texas. They used to go gambling at this casino quite a bit and would always get these free gifts for frequenting the casino. They would always get grill equipment and camping equipment for gifts and then mail them to me. I have spatulas, tongs, lanterns all branded with the Casino's name on them. I went to look for a pair of tongs in the basement and came across the pile of casino accessories and decided that it was time to use them. My Dad loved to grill. My favorite memories of him are the Sundays when he loved to put on a couple T-Bone steaks and baking potatoes for us for dinner. I miss them terribly. I hated souvenir shopping when I traveled. However, I always would look for something for them when I was out and about. My Mom wouldn't travel cause of her heart but this was their way of thinking about me when they ventured out and about. I love that. I am glad I stockpiled all of these things for weekends when I can grill and stand here looking at the yard and sky and think of them with so much love.

BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORS

BIRTHDAY MEAL

Talking about ethnic take out. We don't need it as long as we have Tim's amazing cooking. I was craving some good Thai food. It's unfortunate but we have been reading that a lot of restaurants in our city neighborhood have closed. Our favorite thai place, Pam's Real Thai and it's sister Encore Thai both closed. So, for my birthday meal request, I asked Tim to make me a Thai dinner, Chicken Pad Thai, pineapple fried rice, and a Thai cucumber salad with of course - German Chocolate Cake for desert. A little bit of a disconnect between the exotic dinner and my favorite birthday cake. It was all delicious thanks to Tim.